Wild Cave Tours – Mountain Man Conquers Canmore

Wild Cave Tours – Mountain Man Conquers Canmore

Canmore, Banff National Park, Alberta

Although my name may be Mountain Man, I generally like to stay above rather than within the Rocky Mountains. It’s not that I am a claustrophobic as such but the activitiesI generally prefer consist of outdoor spacious events such as skiing and hiking. So, upon leaving my nice spacious Canmore Lodging at the end of last summer, I was a little apprehensive with the idea of crawling deep down under Grotto Mountain to the wonderfully named Rat’s Nest Cave.

A climber makes his way down one of Rat's Nest's tight squeezes.

Only an hour before descending, I was still unsure of what exactly I could expect to find. I guessed at some rats and maybe a nest but I was quickly informed of the splendors that awaited me. The waters that careered through the cave have left behind glacial deposits, pools of sparkling clear water and even some fossil animal bones.

I was warned beforehand that it can get a bit chilly within the caves as obviously it doesn’t get too much sun but it really wasn’t so bad. The guides there give you a cover-all as well to make sure my already filthy clothes didn’t get any filthier. The dips and dives in the cave were exhilarating and the formations simply stunning. It really felt like I was in another world where no-body else has ever treaded. Towards the end of the tour, an inquisitive rat ran across my path with what appeared to be a look saying: “what the hell are you doing here?!”

Canmore from the outside.

Of all the activities to do around Banff National Park and its surrounds, this is one of the most different. The quietness and uniqueness of the inside of the cave is something very peaceful. It also means that Mountain Man is now a true Mountain Man having conquered all above and below the earth. The best part about the Canmore Cave Tour was returning to my hotel room where everything (including the mini bar) seemed so huge! Canmore Conquered!

Wild Cave Tours run the Rat’s Nest cave runs all year round. The price depends on which tour you choose. The ExplorerTour will set you back $99 while the Adventure Tour is $129. There are also several other options to take a look at.